Poultry processing equipment



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OULTRY PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Original Filed July 8, 1955 3 Sheets-SheffI 2 l l: I l L, i

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June 7, 1960 F. coREY ErAL 2,939,171

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United States Patent PoULTRY PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Flournoy Corey, Frederick C. Corey, and Robert D.

Pitts, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to Pickwick Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Original application `Inly 8, 1955, Ser. No. 520,681, now Patent No. 2,869,172, dated Jan. 20, 1959. Divided and this application May 12, 1958, Ser. No. 737,184

7 Claims. (Cl. 17-11.1)

This invention relates to poultry processing equipment and has particular relation to pressure applying and defeathering means in conjunction with a disc type defeathering machine. This is a division of United States application Serial No. 520,681 led July 8, 1955, now Patent No. 2,869,172, issued Jan. 20, 1959.

The applicants have invented a new and novel defeathering machine which consists generally :of a cylindrical casing having a disc mounted a substantial distance below :the top of the casing. This disc is provided with a number of defeathering members and is adapted to rotate at a substantial rate of speed, the poultry being placed within the casing on top of this revolving disc. The casing is further provided with a series or plurality of defeathering members about 4the inside circumference adjacent to the revolving disc, whereby the poultry or fowl to be picked will be subjected to the action of the feather removing members both on the disc and the casing.

In the type of device described, the, nature of the feather removing means on the casing walls is of extreme importance. These members both remove feathers and serve to hold the fowl in position against the feather removing members of the rotating disc. It is, at the same time, important that these secondary feather removing members should not completely stop the movement of the bird, but rather that they impart some motion to the bird and permit intermittent advancing rotary movement of the bird by the disc, and that any stoppage be only momentary in nature.

It is therefore a primary object of our invention to provide means which will both remove feathers and hold the fowl in position against a primary feather removing disc.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a secondary feather removing means and a device of the type described in which the said secondary means are so positioned Vas to provide compartments about the circumference of the main casing.

It is still another object of our invention to provide a device in which the fowl or ythe like is prevented from becoming wedged 'between the revolving disc and the casing walls. v

It is yet another object of our invention to provide a device in which varying amounts of downward pressure are applied directly on the fowl and against the primary feather removing surface.

It is still another primary object of our invention to provide a feather removing means which will not bruise or damage the fowl, and yet will momentarily retard its movement.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein are disclosed several exemplary embodiments of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made r"ice therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the outward appearance of the device constructed according to our invention. Y

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the interior of the device shown in Figure 1 taken along line 2--2 thereof, showing the primary and secondary feather removing means according `to one embodiment of our invention.

Figure 3 is a top elevational view partly in section looking down into the device similar to that shown in Figure l, but disclosing another embodiment of our invention.

Figure 4 is ya cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken at line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cut-away top view similar to Figure 3, but showing another embodiment of our invention in which the secondary defeathering means are comprised of inwardly extending aps.

Figure 6 is a cut-away cross sectional view on an er1- larged scale taken on a line 6 6 of Figure 5 to show the secondary feather removing means in a vertical position.

Figure 7 is a top view showing yet another embodiment of our invention in which three drums extend inwardly to form the secondary feather removing means, and

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in Figure 7, showing the horizontally mounted drums and the power drive means employed in driving the primary feather removing means.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure l; generally, a disc-type feather removing machine, constructed according to our invention, includes a main frame member 11 which supports the cylindrical casing 12.

This frame includes legs 111 joined at their upper ends by rings 112 and 113. A pair of cross members 114 and have collars 116 and 117 in which a fixed shaft housing 161 is mounted. A shaft 162 is mounted for rotation within housing 161 and a picker disc 16 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft. Upwardly projecting feather removing means 17 are mounted on the disc as by inserting a grooved lower portion thereof through holes in the disc.

A casing 12 which, in this case, is cylindrical in form, is secured at its lower portion to the outer faces of rings 112 and 113. The upper end of the casing is of course open, as shown at 14. Inwardly projecting feather removing means 15 are secured to the upper portion of the casing yin an arrangement, more particularly hereinafter described. A motor housing 13 is preferably mounted on the outside of the casing 12. A water spray pipe 18 is positioned on the inside of the upper lip of the casing, and has a series of openings adapted to direct water into the inside of the machine, and particularly toward the feather removing elements.

In operation, an opening 20 is provided in the side of the casing. This opening is covered with arubber llap such as shown at 21 of Figure 2. The fowl are injected into the machine through this opening.

After the disc is revolved for a suicient length oftime to cause the removal of the feathers, the fowl are withdrawn from -the machine through a door such as is shown at 22 of Figure l. This door may be operated either manually or by a time control device, indicated generally at 23, through a latch means 24.

The disc is driven through a pulley 25 and a belt 26, which is in turn powered by the motor 27. A shield member 28 is provided to protect the drive mechanism.

The operation of this type machine is more fully described in our co-pending application Serial No. 489,468

whichl issued as US. Patent No. 2,777,158 on January 15, 1957. This present invention is 'directed more particularly to the nature of the secondary feather removing means--that is, the means mounted on the 'casing wall above .the vertical disc. Numerous devices may be' utilized for this purpose, but it is'nece'ssary-thatthey/share several operating characteristics in cm'mo'nin order to belective; first, 'in themselves removing'feathe'r's from the bird and, second, in causing the fowl to be 'brought into effective voperating contact with the feather removing means on the rotating disc. Y

Referring vto Figure `1, .it will be noted .that the feather removing means '15,r the inner ends y19 of which extend into the casing, are disposedin vertical rows spaced apart at some distance. This distance .shouldbe sufic'ien't .to permit Ythefowl to nestY between fthe' adjacentY rows of feather removing means andto'lbe'held there, yet theV distanceshould .not besuch .that .the fowl will become Itis Vdesirable that the fowl .be Vheld for .only averyV short period of time inthe one .position 'about the wall of the casing, yet it is necessary thatit be held momentarily in orderfor thefeather removing means on the rotating disc to do Ytheir .part in removing feathers-from the bird. ltis, `of course, obvious that as the -fowl is moved about thewalls of the casing, the feather Vremoving means 19 -therein will'alsro remove feathers.

A second group of Vfeather removing means 29'and 30 aretprovided and ladapted to projectinwardlyalong side of lthe upright feather removing means on the disc itself. These'means performlyet -a third vfunction beyond that of momentarily holding the birdgand vremoving feathers'- that is, they prevent the bird or its wings or legs from be- Y Vcoming wedged between the edge of the disc and the casing. Therefore these two horizontal rows of feather removing/means are spaced much Vcloser together, and in view of the rotary motion of the bird itself, presents what amounts toa solid wall. I

As previously stated, numerous meansmay be provided to secure the desired operative results required of the sec- Vondary feather removing means.

Figure V3l discloses another embodiment of our invention'. In this ligure, the secondary feather removing means includes ak loosely mounted .rubber -or plastic resilient strip 31, `whichextends entirely karound the inner wall ofthe casing above the rotating disc. This strip'is held in position by va series Lof vertical straps 32, which are -boltedto the casing atboth ends A,by fasteners 33 and 34. Thisresilient strip -is of substantially greater length than the circumference of the casing itself, which in 'turn results -in the strips bulging inwardly, as Vindicated atpoints 35 and36. l

I -Since the-strip 31 is loosely held in relation to the casing, it is possible to make vvarying adjustments in these bulges or rolls. For example, every other roll may be pulled inwardly toward the center of the machine, while `the adjacent roll becomes liattened agamst'the side of the machine. This adjustment is desirable to accommodate 4various Vsizes and types -of fowl, in'view of 4the differing picking actions required as Ybetween such varying sizes. For example, the requirement'for effective results varies between the small broiler-type chicken and the large Tom turkey, since the size Aand lweights are so greatly different. It will be noted that this embodiment of the invention .also has a series of feather removing means 29a .and 30a about the llower portion 'of the casing adjacent to the' moving'means 30b are `disposed aboutthis rotating Vdisc again tolprevent theV fowl V'from becoming Iwedged Abetween tliediscand the casing wall.

4 Y In this embodiment, however, a series of vertically disposed flaps 37 and 38'are mounted onthe 'walls ofthe casing and extend inwardly into the interior of the machine above the rotating disc. These again are spaced apart. In Figure 5 is shown aps disposed at 90 degree intervals` to provide the necessary spacing and compartment. a

The shape of these aps 37 `is generally that of an L. The portion 38, which is immediately adjacent to the wall of the casing, extends downwardly to a `point just above the rotating disc. This lower edge 39 performs a function similar to that of the feather removing means 29 in the previous embodiments described. 'The other -leg of 'fthe flap extends inwardly toward thecenter ofthe machine. This portion, indicated generally Yat 40, also extends downwardlytoward 'the rotating disc. It will'be -at once apparent that the lower edge `41 of this downwardly extending portion -will serve bothras a feather Vremoving means, and as ameans to Vhold the bird-incontact with vthe rotating disc. Of course lthe exact -shape of this flap may be varied, :provided these -two primary functions `are carried out-that uis,iirst, of guarding the bird against being caught between the disc land the walls of the casing, and, second, of rholdingthe bird inconvtact with the Vfeather removing 'means on the rotating disc.

It is also Vto be -noted that the lilapsalso 1present la third operative Vsurface in the form of `the vertical edge, vwhich again both removes vfeathers and causesmomentary stoppage of the bird.

Still :another embodiment fof -our invent-ion i's shown in I'Figures 7 and 8. In .thisembodimenn the 'casing 12 randthe disc 16 `are similar to the device shown -in Figures l and 2. The disc-contains alplurality rofl-,upwardly extending feather removing means, `such yas 43 and44. However, the secondary feather removing means in this instance includes a plurality -of v.power -driven shaftsf45, 46 and 47 kwhich have mounted :thereon a number vof feather removing members, such as 48 and 149. Each individual shaft is .driven through "areduction .gear by its own motor.

In operation, .the direction of rotation of rthe lower disc, viewed yfrom above, 'maybe-clockwise; The direction of rotation of the .powerdriven shaft, 'viewed 'from vthe inner end, :is also clockwise. In thismanner, the actual directionalmovement ofthe-ends of ythe feather -removing means on both thediscfand .the shaft'sis opposite to each other. It will fb`e readily` apparent that runder these circumstances, the oppo'site forces will ltend'lto `retardfthe movement 'of the bird Aiii-relation to` the revolving disc, imparting a rolling action and a stopping action -atithes'a'me time. Y ,Y

-It will also benote'd that these 'sha'fts 'are positioned at 'a distance 'from one fanother about the S circumference of the casing, with the resultltliat compartmentsaregprovided by virtue of the'pos'itioningof 'the devices. EHero again theV dual vfunctions of the feather removingfmeans are carried out-that is,'lto slow the movement of -thebird about `the interior ofthecasing and, Y'atthe same time, urge it firmly into contact with the lower disc.

In this embodiment -of the invention, we have employed 'a Ydifferent means Yfor preventing thejpoultryfrom becoming caught between the revolving disc and the cas ing. InV this instance, the means includes a bumper-preferably formed yas Aan inwardly bulging :strip-'of resilient material, semi-circular in crosssectio'n, extending 'atleast part way Varound the inner wallsof the casing, Vadjacent tothe revolving disc. This annular bumper is V"Shown at `5'3. The function of 4-this 'means Vlis'readily apparent. It mayV be constructed of either rubber or-,a'pliable plastic. However, rubber would be more desirable inasmuch 'as it has a capacity to remove feathers as well as guarding the -birds inreIation tothe edge of the disc. 0f course this same means may be readily A"employed, in anyof'the other embodiments disclosed, in place of the feather re moving means 29 and 30, 29a and 30a, or 30h.

It will be noted, too, that the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 includes an opening 20, flap 17, and door v22 in the same manner as shown in 'Figures l and 2. The method of handling the fowl in and out of the machine is the same in this embodiment as previously described in the other embodiment of this invention.

From the foregoing, i-t will be seen that the applicants have provided means to achieve the desired resultsthat is, a secondary feather removing means which also serves to retard the movement of the fowl in relation to the primary feather removing means or the rotating disc and, at the same time, bias the bird downward against this rotating disc in order to increase its eectiveness as a feather removing portion of the machine.

Experience has proven that the average fowl can withstand considerable violent action and heavy pressure to accomplish the removal of the feathers so long as those pressures are not applied at any one point for a great length of time, and so long as the fowl is not brought into sharp contact with a solid object Within the machine to such an extent as to cause the breakage of bones and the like. Obviously suiiicient spacing of the secondary feather removing means around the circumference of the casing is of extreme importance to prevent the bird from becoming lodged orenmeshed in the removal means and thus hung up. The several embodiments herein disclosed achieve the desired results.

Although we have described several specific embodiments of our invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a poultry dressing machine, a main frame, a horizontally extending main support for the birds during picking action having generally upwardly projecting feather removing means mounted in the main frame for rotation about a vertical axis, power means mounted on said frame for rotating the main support, a vertical confining means surrounding and mounted on the main support having means projecting inwardly therefrom for holding the bird on the support and for intermittently retarding the rotary motion of the birds on the main support to cause the feather removing means to rub off feathers while the motion of the birds is retarded, and downwardly acting means mounted on said vertical confining means and extending radially inwardly therefrom ina plane above said main support and said inwardly projecting holding means for pressing down on the birds to intensify the picking action.

2. A poultry dressing machine such as set forth in claim l, in which the intermittent retarding means includes feather removing means.

3. A poultry dressing machine such as set forth in claim 1, in which the retarding means includes aps.

4. A poultry dressing machine such as set forth in claim 1, in which the retarding means comprises inwardly extending aps, and the downwardly acting means include aps extending downwardly from a support mounted on the vertical confining means above the birds.

5. A poultry dressing machine such as set forth in claim l, in which the retarding means includes inwardly' extending rolls.

6. A poultry dressing machine such as set forth in claim 1, in which the retarding means includes at least one group of rotating feather removing means.

7. A poultry dressing machine such as set forth in claim l, in which the means for holding the birds on the support includes a bumper.

References Cited in the lc of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,590 DeBonneville Dec. 13, 1904 2,250,224 Helton July 22, 1941 2,496,780 DeNardis et al Feb. 7, 1950 2,777,158 Pitts et al. Jan. l5, 1957 2,782,457. Lentz et al. Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,325 Great Britain 1886 

